Diseases & Conditions

Health Alert Network

Lead in Drinking Water for Health Care Providers; Information about Water Lead Levels and School Test Results

As part of a voluntary water testing program, school officials recently detected elevated lead levels (>15 parts per billion (ppb)) in some drinking water samples at Fairmont Junior High. As Boise School District continues to test other schools, there may be additional public announcements about elevated water lead levels in fountains or faucets. Parents may have questions about the risk to their children’s health, or about the need for blood lead testing. As CDC case studies have demonstrated, exposure to a water source with elevated lead levels does not necessitate blood lead testing (CDC, 2004; 2010; 2012; 2016). Lead levels in Boise’s drinking water are not elevated so lead is typically from the fixture or plumbing components. Full HAN Message

Plague (Yersinia pestis) Confirmed in Child; Plague Exposure Could Be from Idaho or Oregon; Watch for Cases

June 12, 2018
Plague was confirmed this week in an Elmore County child. The child was in Idaho and Oregon during the incubation period. A source has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing. No ground squirrel die-offs have been detected this year in Ada or Elmore County or in Oregon. Full HAN Message

April 13, 2018
Central District Health Department (CDHD) has identified six Shiga-Toxin Producing E. coli (STEC O157:H7) cases who are associated with a nation-wide cluster. Onset dates for CDHD patients range from March 25 to March 30. Please continue to watch for new cases. Full HAN Message

November 20, 2017
During the last three months, 12 pertussis cases have been reported among Ada County residents. This is twice the number compared to the same time period last year. Many of the cases are in teenagers and young adults (i.e. 13-20 years old), however 25% of the cases are older than 40. Full HAN Message

Zika Virus Testing Update for Health Care Providers

March 20, 2017
Idaho Bureau of Laboratories (IBL) provides testing for emerging diseases when diagnostic testing is limited or nonexistent in the commercial sector. Zika virus testing was a recent example of this. Since commercial testing for Zika is now widely available in clinical reference laboratories, IBL is no longer accepting specimens for routine Zika testing. Specimens should be sent to the health care facility’s commercial laboratory. Full HAN Message

Reporting Acute Flaccid Myelitis

November 7, 2016In 2014, the United States saw an unexpected increase in the number of reports of children experiencing neurologic illness with presentations similar to acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). The syndrome was named acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) to better distinguish it from other forms of AFP. Full HAN Message

Zika Virus Advisory for Health Care Providers

Gonorrhea and Syphilis Update

August 2, 2016
Gonorrhea and syphilis rates remain high across the Treasure Valley. CDHD urges providers to continue to assess risk, discuss risk reduction strategies, and test patients for STDs including gonorrhea and syphilis. Full HAN Message

Plague Advisory for Health Care Providers

May 27, 2016
Plague (Yersinia pestis) Likely to Confirm in Ground Squirrels Outside of Boise; Central District Health Department Asks Providers to be Alert for Cases through June. Full HAN Message

February 16, 2016Syphilis continues to be a concern in our communities. In 2015 and 2016, 70 primary and secondary cases related to this latest outbreak were reported to CDHD and Southwest District Health. Full HAN Message

Zika Virus Advisory for Health Care Providers

January 20, 2016
Please consider Zika virus infection when evaluating patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms after travel to affected areas, including Puerto Rico and multiple countries in the Americas south of the United States. Full HAN Message

CDC Health Alert Network Messages

Click here for the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDHD, Public Health District IV, is one of seven public health districts within the state of Idaho, serving the counties of Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley. The health districts were established in 1970 under Idaho Code to ensure essential public health services are made available to protect the health of all citizens of the state - no matter how large or small their county population. With a vision of Healthy People in Healthy Communities, CDHD's emphasis is on decreasing risk factors for chronic disease, improving quality of life and increasing the years of healthy life among residents.